Gerald McCoy already has his hooks into his likely future backup

Shortly before defensive tackle Euclid Cummings was set to perform at the Georgia Tech pro day, a man shook his hand, introduced himself, and said he’d be calling the shots during his drills.

That man was Bucs defensive line coach Joe Cullen. And now Cummings is a Buccaneer, with any signs pointing to Cummings being groomed as Gerald McCoy’s backup. (more…)

Mike Evans turned heads, wowed watchers and dropped jaws yesterday, the first time non-Bucs employees were allowed to watch Evans on a Bucs practice field.

He certainly got Joe’s attention.

And the No. 7 pick of the draft didn’t disappoint. It only took him 101 minutes into the 120-minute practice to leave a lasting impression. (more…)

The drafting of running back Charles Sims out of West Virginia sure opened up a lot of people’s eyes. Bucs fans started to worry about the job status of fan favorite Doug Martin.

Lovie had told Joe at the NFL Scouting Combine that Doug Martin would be his bellcow and he lauded the Bucs’ stable of running backs. (more…)

The Bucs today released heavily tattooed tight end Tom Crabtree. This came from the acerbic Twitter feed of Crabtree himself. (more…)

Yes, Bucs fans are still buzzing over the catch by Mike Evans yesterday. It was an impressive move by the No. 7 draft pick from Texas A&M.

Bucs coach Lovie Smith was impressed as well, but more so with other things Evans is doing. (more…)

Lovie Smith talked about expectations for a No. 7 overall pick

When you’re drafted No. 7 overall, you better be a great player doing spectacular things.

Joe’s not talking about rookie Mike Evans this morning. Joe’s waiting on safety Mark Barron, the 2012 No. 7 overall pick, to prove he’s part of the Bucs’ long term future. (more…)

Bucs rookie LB Nate Askew caught Bucs coach Lovie Smith’s eye as a first-year linebacker at Texas A&M.

If there is an early interesting angle to follow in Bucs rookie minicamp, and likely into the early weeks of training camp and the preseason, it will be how linebacker Nate Askew progresses.

It seems there is something about the man that Bucs coach Lovie Smith likes. (more…)

Bucs rookie RB Charles Sims

Joe wrote earlier this week about how the Bucs’ special teams have more question marks than The Riddler’s house.

So what about the Bucs’ new rookies? Do they have special teams experience? (more…)

Bucs WR Mike Evans talks about his first few days in the NFL.

When we were all little, we looked up to at least one NFL player and wanted to be him in some way, shape or form. For some odd reason, Joe idolized Conrad Dobler.

Mike Evans is no different. The basketball-turned-football star and now freshly drafted Bucs wide receiver had football heroes, too. And strangely, one is his teammate now. (more…)

Joe’s live from the fields of rookie minicamp

It’s Joe’s always popular practice notes and observations, this time from opening day of Bucs rookie minicamp/tryout camp at One Buc Palace.

Fifty young hopefuls, from draft picks to second-year players like former Florida State defensive tackle Everett Dawkins, a seventh-round pick of the Cowboys last year, took to the sunny, breezy fields. (more…)

Bucs players are under strict orders not to remove the tarp that shrouds the Jeff Tedford offense. Don’t reveal state secrets, lest the NKVD will visit you.

This didn’t stop Joe from prying. (more…)

For wide receivers, especially now with rookie stud Mike Evans on board, the offense of the Bucs will be all about the YAC.

Unfortunately today for Evans, it began with the yack. As in tossing his lunch. Loosing it. Ralphing. (more…)

Yes, the Bucs need more depth on their offensive line. It’s thin. It’s got question marks. But it’s also only May 16.

There’s time to find a gem or two. Joe asked Lovie about prospective lineman at rookie minicamp today. (more…)

The Bucs’ gargantuan tight end, second-round pick Austin Seferian-Jenkins, won’t get much of a chance to flash his talent for a while.

And how long that will last is a mystery. (more…)

The Joes just happened to be sitting at a table on the backyard patio at One Buc Palace that faces the practices fields today. One Joe just happened to have his binoculars focused on first round draft pick wide receiver Mike Evans, fortunately.

The other Joe was watching with the naked eye.

So Evans runs a seam route from the right to the left and rookie quarterback Brett Smith of Wyoming and his linguini arm tossed a terribly overthrown pass to Evans. (more…)

In a somewhat odd move, the Bucs only had one quarterback in their rookie/tryout minicamp today.

Wyoming star Brett Smith was a busy man, but his arm was one of the weakest Joe’s seen on the professional level in years. (more…)

Joe’s words can’t do this justice, but Mike Evans simply dropped every jaw at Bucs rookie minicamp this afternoon with a catch that made Joe understand why legendary talent evaluator Gil Brandt said Evans has the best hands he’s seen since Calvin Johnson. (more…)

A glance at the list of tryout players the Bucs have in rookie minicamp today through Sunday reveals Chris Burnette is the only undrafted player labeled “guard” in the mix.

That seems like quite an opportunity for the young man. (more…)

Joe was reminded today of one of the lighter periods in Bucs history, when Raheem Morris often distracted fans from the losing with news conferences that rolled out silly nicknames, stories of his granny looking like a bulldog, historic ramblings “and things of that nature.”

One classic came before the implosion of 2011, when Raheem explained how his starting safeties, oft-injured Cody Grimm and serial loafer Sean Jones, were “The Wolfs.” (more…)

Buccaneers rookies take the practice field today for the opening of Tampa Bay’s three-day rookie minicamp.

And you thought this was some sleepy Friday in May, when Bucs fans typically would drink adult beverages and count down the 70 or so days until training camp kicks off!

Nope, Joe will be buzzing around practice and One Buc Palace delivering you all kinds of news, notes, nuggets and words from your newest Bucs.

Stick with Joe through the day, and the weekend.

Former Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik discusses his biggest mistake with the Bucs.

Yesterday, former Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik appeared with Tom Krasniqi on WDAE-AM 620 for chatter about the NFL and the Bucs. Dominik now covers the NFL for the four-letter.

Towards the end of the interview, Krasniqi asked Dominik, after five months to meditate on his 18 years with the Bucs, was the biggest mistake he made running the Pewter Pirates.

Dominik didn’t hesitate (more…)

Former Bucs DE Steve White would rather watch a test pattern than the Bucs offense if G Oniel Cousins plays.

Five months into the Lovie Smith administration, the roster has had a thorough makeover. Beefed up defensive line. Revolving door at cornerback. Stud wide receiver. New quarterback. Spiced up running attack.

The offensive line? Well, it’s gotten a near complete overhaul, with the exception of incumbent right tackle Demar Dotson and maybe Carl Nicks at left guard. If there is one major hole on the roster, it would be right guard, where veteran Oniel Cousins could start. (more…)